Sowjanya Polepalli

Synthesis and biological evaluation of podophyllotoxin congeners as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

A series of new podophyllotoxin derivatives containing structural modifications at C-7, C-8, and C-9 were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines. All the synthesized compounds showed significant growth inhibition with GI50 values in micromolar levels while some of the compounds were several times more potent against MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines than MIAPACA cell line. Three compounds (12a, 12d and 12e) emerged as potent compounds with broad spectrum of cytotoxic activity against all the tested cell lines with GI50 values in the range of 0.01-2.1 μM. These compounds induce microtubule depolymerization and arrests cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, compounds 12d and 12e disrupted microtubule network and accumulated tubulin in the soluble fraction in a similar manner to their parent podophyllotoxin scaffold. In addition, structure activity relationship studies within the series were also discussed. Molecular docking studies of these compounds into the colchicine-binding site of tubulin, revealed possible mode of inhibition by these compounds.

Synthesis of arylpyrazole linked benzimidazole conjugates as potential microtubule disruptors.

In an attempt to develop potent and selective anticancer agents, a series of twenty arylpyrazole linked benzimidazole conjugates (10a-t) were designed and synthesized as microtubule destabilizing agents. The joining of arylpyrazole to the benzimidazole moiety resulted in a four ring (A, B, C and D) molecular scaffold that comprises of polar heterocyclic rings in the middle associated with rotatable single bonds and substituted aryl rings placed in the opposite directions. These conjugates were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of sixty cancer cell line panel of the NCI. Among these some conjugates like 10a, 10b, 10d, 10e, 10p and 10r exhibited significant growth inhibitory activity against most of the cell lines ranging from 0.3 to 13μM. Interestingly, the conjugate 10b with methoxy group on D-ring expressed appreciable cytotoxic potential. A549 cells treated with some of the potent conjugates like 10a, 10b and 10d arrested cells at G2/M phase apart from activating cyclin-B1 protein levels and disrupting microtubule network. Moreover, these conjugates effectively inhibited tubulin polymerization with IC50 values of 1.3-3.8μM. Whereas, the caspase assay revealed that they activate the casepase-3 leading to apoptosis. Particularly 10b having methoxy substituent induced activity almost 3 folds higher than CA-4. Furthermore, a competitive colchicine binding assay and molecular modeling analysis suggests that these conjugates bind to the tubulin successfully at the colchicine binding site. These investigations reveal that such conjugates having pyrazole and benzimidazole moieties have the potential in the development of newer chemotherapeutic agents.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-aza-2,3-dihydropyridophenanthrolines as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of novel 4-aza-2,3-dihydropyridophenanthrolines 12(a-t) were synthesized by a one-step three component condensation of 1,10-phenanthroline amine, tetronic acid and various aromatic aldehydes. These were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three human cancer cell lines (MIAPACA, MCF-7 and HeLa) using SRB assay. Majority of the tested compounds exhibited significant anticancer activity on these cell lines and interestingly compounds 12h and 12i were more potent than etoposide and podophyllotoxin against all three tested cancer cell lines with GI50 values in the range of 0.01-0.5 μM. Furthermore, these compounds showed significant inhibition of tubulin polymerization which is comparable to that of podophyllotoxin and disrupted microtubule network by accumulating tubulin in the soluble fraction. The flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the synthesized compounds led to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Moreover, the structure activity relationship studies in this series are also discussed.

Synthesis and evaluation of benzosuberone embedded with 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole moieties as new potential anti proliferative agents.

As an aspect of our ongoing research in search of new anti proliferative agents, a series of novel analogs of benzosuberone embedded with 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole moieties were synthesized in excellent yields (82-93%). All the newly synthesized compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, ESI/LC-MS, HRMS and evaluated for their in vitro anti proliferative activity against four human cancer cell lines (cervical, breast, pancreatic and alveolar). Among the synthesized compounds, 4b, 6a, 7d and 7l showed potent anti proliferative activity with GI50 values range of 0.079-0.957μM against four human cancer cell lines. However, it was revealed that the compound 7d have shown very close GI50 value 0.079μM as compared with positive control of colchicine against cervical cancer cell line.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole-Linked Oxindoles as Potent Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors

A series of imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazole‐linked oxindoles composed of an A, B, C and D ring system were synthesized and investigated for anti‐proliferative activity in various human cancer cell lines; test compounds were variously substituted at rings C and D. Among them, compounds 7 ((E)‐5‐fluoro‐3‐((6‐p‐tolyl‐2‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazol‐5‐yl)methylene)indolin‐2‐one), 11 ((E)‐3‐((6‐p‐tolyl‐2‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazol‐5‐yl)methylene)indolin‐2‐one), and 15 ((E)‐6‐chloro‐3‐((6‐phenyl‐2‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazol‐5‐yl)methylene)indolin‐2‐one) exhibited potent anti‐proliferative activity. Treatment with these three compounds resulted in accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, inhibition of tubulin assembly, and increased cyclin‐B1 protein levels. Compound 7 displayed potent cytotoxicity, with an IC50 range of 1.1–1.6 μM, and inhibited tubulin polymerization with an IC50 value (0.15 μM) lower than that of combretastatin A‐4 (1.16 μM). Docking studies reveal that compounds 7 and 11 bind with αAsn101, βThr179, and βCys241 in the colchicine binding site of tubulin.

Design and Synthesis of Aminostilbene–Arylpropenones as Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors

A series of aminostilbene—arylpropenones were designed and synthesized by Michael addition and were investigated for their cytotoxic activity against various human cancer cell lines. Some of the investigated compounds exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines of the US National Cancer Institute, with 50 % growth inhibition (GI50) values in the range from <0.01 to 19.9 μM. One of the compounds showed a broad spectrum of antiproliferative efficacy on most of the cell lines, with a GI50 value of <0.01 μM. All of the synthesized compounds displayed cytotoxicity against A549 (non‐small‐cell lung cancer), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF‐7 (breast cancer), and HCT116 (colon carcinoma) with 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 0.011 to 8.56 μM. A cell cycle assay revealed that these compounds arrested the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Two compounds exhibited strong inhibitory effects on tubulin assembly with IC50 values of 0.71 and 0.79 μM. Moreover, dot‐blot analysis of cyclin B1 demonstrated that some of the congeners strongly induced cyclin B1 protein levels. Molecular docking studies indicated that these compounds occupy the colchicine binding site of tubulin.

Aryl-imidazothiadiazole analogues as microtubule disrupting agents

Two series of 2-ethyl-6-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-aryl and 2-cyclopropyl-6-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-aryl-imidazothiadiazoles were designed, synthesized and evaluated for anti-proliferative activity in various human cancer cell lines. A common starting material 2-bromo-1-(3-,4-,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-ethanone was employed to generate the two scaffolds. Among them, compounds functionalized with N,N-dimethylaniline (5i and 6i) and napthyl (5k) groups showed significant cytotoxic activity with average IC50 values of 1.7–2.9 μM, respectively. Moreover, the structure–activity relationship was elucidated by incorporating the different substitutions on the aryl moiety at the 5th position of the imidazothiadiazole ring. Treatments with 5i, 6i and 5k arrested cells at the G2/M phase, with cell death proceeding through an apoptotic pathway that was dependent on the activation of caspase-3. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed the loss of intact microtubule structures in treated cells. Treatments with 5i, 6i and 5k manifested increased mRNA and protein levels of the G2/M marker, cyclin B1. Molecular docking studies of the most potent compounds 5i, 5k and 6i showed that these compounds interact and bind efficiently to the active site of tubulin. This was further confirmed by a colchicine competitive binding assay.

Synthesis of novel tetrazole containing hybrid ciprofloxacin and pipemidic acid analogues and preliminary biological evaluation of their antibacterial and antiproliferative activity

A series of 1-substituted-1H-tetrazole-5-thiol building blocks were synthesized and introduced to the N-4 piperazinyl group at C-7 position of the quinolone core, and these novel compounds (5a–g and 8a–g) were screened for their antibacterial and antiproliferative activities. Bioactive assay studies manifested that most of new compounds exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the tested strains, including multi-drug-resistant MRSA in comparison with reference drugs ciprofloxacin, streptomycin B and pipemidic acid. Among the synthesized compounds, only ciprofloxacin (5a–g) derivatives displayed significant activity (

Synthesis, molecular docking and in vitro antiproliferative activity of novel pyrano[3,2-c]carbazole derivatives

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